Martin Hála

Image: Chinese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Zhang Jianmin gives a talk in September 2018. Chinese diplomats, local partners, and high-level events such as trade conferences all play a role in building positive propaganda narratives (Image source: Global Times).

Image: Czech President Miloš Zeman speaking during a television interview, January 10, 2019. President Zeman, an advocate of closer economic and political ties with the PRC, used this interview to denounce the Czech security services for their skeptical positions about Huawei. (Source: TV Barrandov)

Ye Jianming (front row, center), then-chairman of CEFC China Energy, with Czech President Miloš Zeman (to Ye’s right) at CEFC corporate headquarters in Shanghai, Sep. 2015. During the visit, it was revealed that Ye Jianming had earlier that year been appointed as an “honorary adviser” to the Czech President. (Source: Pražský hrad)